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Author: Search Influence Alumni

  • Five For Friday – Off With Your Map Packs: Google Changes Algorithm, Yelp Is An SEO Genius, And More!


    1. Upload 12 Second Videos Via Yelp’s iPhone App

    As promised back in May, the roll-out of Yelp’s video review upload for iPhone users happened this past Monday. This update allows local businesses to add 3 – 12 second videos via the Yelp Mobile App. We don’t want you to get confused though, these videos aren’t your typical spam annoyance. These videos are more than just “video reviews”. They offer business owners the opportunity to give their visitors a short glimpse into what their company is truly about (the atmosphere, employee interaction, etc.), and all before ever stepping foot in the business.

    While there is no determined roll-out date as of yet, don’t frown Android users. Your video claim to fame will be coming soon via Yelp’s Android app.

    2. Moz Updates to Local Search Query Triggers 23.4% Drop In Google 7-Packs

    MozCast has attempted to set their search query so that it accurately reflects what viewers are looking for. As a result, the seven map-packs originally provided in search results have now dropped an estimated 23.4% due to the Google Local algorithm change. Some queries, such as wedding makeup, train tickets, bed & breakfasts, etc., seemed to have actually lost local map packs all together.

    We aren’t sure what other changes this update will bring to the table, but we do know that its impact on the search results for small, local businesses has substantially been affected. Overall, it is unfortunately resulting in decreased visibility. All we can do now is wait on the real world results of this update, and come up with a solution to advise our clients accordingly.

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    3. Yelp: Seo Genius or Manipulative Mastermind

    Ever wondered how Yelp, the business review site less formally known as “online urban guide”, could possibly outrank Google in its own search results? Whether it be amazing SEO tactics, pure manipulation, or sheer luck, we suggest that you jump aboard the Yelp train. Go out of your way to claim, optimize, and actively manage your Yelp listing. Whether it is by encouraging satisfied consumers to leave positive reviews on the listing, or just making sure all your information is completely accurate and consistent, glam it up as much as you can.

    Until further notice, a good SEO strategy is having a good Yelp strategy.

    4. What Are You Really Exposing When Logging In Socially?

    We all are guilty of it, signing into websites using social media. It’s quick, simple, and there are fewer logins to remember, right? Wrong. Logging in with social media basically allows anyone to access the map of your road trip through life. Any personal information you have throughout your social media accounts, whether it is public or hidden, can be accessed when agreeing to login socially. While this may not be as alarming to some as it is for others, it can be kind of creepy.

    Whether it stems from attempting to save your precious time for something more valuable, or if it’s just sheer laziness, no one bothers to read further into what they are actually signing up for. Next time you decide to “Login With Facebook”, take a few minutes to login into the nifty Social Profile Navigator created by industry leading social login provider, Janrain. You’ll be surprised at the data you’re allowing these websites to see.

    5. Where Do Your Consumers Leave Their Online Reviews?

    Getting positive reviews can be a grueling task, but is ultimately worth it due to the positive effects it can have on your online visibility. Owner of GetFiveStars.com, Mike Blumenthal, strives to provide insight to local businesses and connect them with their consumers to ultimately create a strategy based on leveraging only positive reviews to increase their online visibility. Mike conducted a study to better understand what percentage of consumers actually take the time to leave reviews, as well as to find out where they prefer to leave reviews online. Out of the 2,671 respondents, a whopping 22.2% admitted to actually leaving reviews at least once a year. Then, they were asked where they preferred to leave their online results. Here are their answers:

    There is no surprise that Google comes out on top, but take a look at who even trumped Yelp, the SEO mastermind and the top business review site. Without even having any designated section to place reviews for a business, consumers prefer leaving reviews on Facebook. Most consumers feel extremely comfortable when navigating through Facebook. Users are more likely to leave a review at their own free will because of Facebook’s non-threatening environment.

    Although Facebook currently has no way of leveraging these assets in a concrete way, we believe that its popularity in the local review space on the web will continue to grow and remain a strong contender in the future months to come. We strongly encourage your business to partake in this natural (and free) SEO strategy — before competitors begin to catch on!

    Image Sources:
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  • Our Newest Influencers

    New space, new team members. July has been an incredible month for Search Influence. If you’re interested in joining the SI crew, visit our careers page!

    With all the extra space in the CBD, we continue to grow! Search Influence is proud to recognize its newest team members.

    briceBrice Bathel – Junior Web Developer

    Brice is originally from Marrero, LA and currently lives in Harahan. Brice went to Holy Cross High School and went on to attend LSU and UNO. He previously worked in programming home automation. Brice is interested in web design.

    clareenClareen Ward – Junior Account Associate

    Born and raised in San Francisco, Clareen came to Loyola University – New Orleans to study Mass Communication. Before joining the Search Influence team, Clareen worked in event planning for a local food and wine festival here in New Orleans. In her free time, she loves to travel, cook, and spend time with her family and friends.

    Gabrielle

    Gabrielle Bethancourt – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

    Born and raised in New Orleans, Gabrielle graduated from Tulane with a degree in English in May of 2013. She then spent 8 months teaching English in Spain and traveling through Europe. Although Spanish churros, Belgian waffles, and Italian pasta are all delicious, there’s nothing quite like gumbo and jambalaya. Gabrielle’s excited to be back home and joining the SI team.

    jamieJamie Joyce – Junior Internet Marketing Associate

    Jamie Joyce is extremely excited to join the Search Influence team. Originally from Nashville, Jamie is currently a rising junior at Tulane University where he is focusing on Communications. Before coming to SI, Jamie worked as a PR consultant for Ragusa Consulting in New Orleans. In his spare time, Jamie likes to go to shows, ride his bike, and explore the city.

     

    Congratulations Brice, Clareen, Gabrielle, and Jamie! If you are interested in joining the Search Influence team, visit our careers page and send us your résumé.

     

  • “Pigeon” Algorithm Update Released Thursday 7/24/14

    Pigeon: The New Google Local Search Algorithm Takes Flight

    Google “Pigeon” algorithm update pic on Search Engine Land

    Yesterday, July 24th, 2014, Google pushed live what Search Engine Land is calling the “Pigeon” update. SEO sources are reporting that this update is specifically affecting the local search algorithm. This update has further intertwined organic and local indicators, algorithms and results, and it has the potential to affect the rankings of many small businesses.

    Matt McGee said it best on Search Engine Land: “[Update will] benefit big directory sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor — sites that have stronger SEO signals than small, individual restaurants and hotels are likely to have. For those businesses and websites, local search has just gotten a lot more difficult.”

    Small businesses will likely notice an effect on their rankings. Whether the effect is positive or negative is yet to be seen.

    Additional Details:

    • Major directories such as Yelp, Zagat, Urbanspoon, TripAdvisor, and others are seeing increased page 1 rankings and influence in the search results
    • The update has only been released to US English results, but the percent of queries impacted has not been reported
    • Google said that this new algorithm improves their distance and location ranking parameters, and aims to provide a more useful and relevant experience for searchers seeking local results, although it may make it more difficult for individual businesses to rank in the search results

    Like so many of Google’s updates, this is a first pass which will certainly have tweaks and updates as it goes along. In every algorithm update it typically takes a few weeks before we understand the full impact.

    This update from Google plays into a long-term strategy we’ve practiced at Search Influence: Barnacle SEO. Barnacle SEO has been getting a lot of attention lately because of Google’s love of big sites. What we’ve learned, over the years, is that it’s important to be present in all the places Google, and customers, would look for a business like yours.

    Rest assured, like the other updates before it, we’ll assure our clients are well positioned for the future.

    For more information check out these articles:

    Google “Pigeon” Updates Local Search Algorithm With Stronger Ties To Web Search Signal

    Pigeon: Search Engine Land’s Name For The New Google Local Search Update

  • Five For Friday – Get Your Workout On From Work, Weird Al Becomes Content King, and More!

    Five For Friday – Get Your Workout On From Work, Weird Al Becomes Content King, and More!

    #51. Any Mac User Can Test OS X Yosemite Beta

    For the first time in more than a decade, Apple will allow any Mac user to test OS X Yosemite before its full release. A public beta program will allow one million users to sign up and try the new features that come with Yosemite. The new OS is still under construction and will officially premiere in the fall. How can you be part of this beta test? Check out Mashable’s how-to for the one million curious Apple enthusiasts.

    2. And The Emmy Award Goes To…

    In addition to announcing its nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences also released the nominations for Creative Arts Emmy Awards, with categories including Outstanding Commercial. Budweisers’ “Puppy Love” and GE’s “Childlike Imagination” lead the nominations. Check out the full list of nominees!

    3. Here’s Why Weird Al Dominated Social Media This Week

    weirdalWeird Al Yankovic’s latest songs are trending because of his partnership with different content studios (and, of course, for the content itself). Over the course of a week, he released a new music video, each produced with a different partnership or artist in order to promote his first album in three years, “Mandatory Fun.” Some of the partnerships include content portals such as College Humor, Funny or Die, and Nerdist.

    4. Move Over Standing Desks, Cubii Is the Latest Office Must Have

    Sitting can kill you! That’s why so many companies are investing in treadmill and standing desks. However, multifaceted office furniture can be extremely expensive and most companies are not willing to take in the extra overhead cost. Cue Cubii, the “Sitting Exerciser.” This pint-sized elliptical has been designed to fit under an office desk (you won’t bump your knees!) and also includes a companion app to track your workout.

    5. Facebook Introduces “Save”Appleblog2

    For those who hated endless scrolling in order to go back to that hilarious video on your NewsFeed, Facebook introduced their  “Save” feature this week. Items saved by Facebook users will resurface on their NewsFeed. To learn more about this feature, visit Facebook’s official blog.

    Image Sources:

    RCA Records

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  • Call Me, Tweet Me (If You Wanna Rank Me) – Google Update Favors Mobile Sites

    UpdateAllTheCrustySitesImageRecently, Google released a blog about the importance of having a modern website that supports modern devices. Google has always put emphasis on the user’s experience. Now, they are trying to avoid sending users to sites that don’t promote a good user-friendly experience.

    Google explains that flash sites will display a warning in their search engine results. This warning can be detrimental to business owners with flash sites, or any site Google deems not compatible with modern devices. If users see this warning in the search engine results pages they will be less likely to click on the site. Essentially, it does not matter if a business’s site is ranked at the top of the page or the bottom; if this error warning is displayed the click through rate will be obliterated and the traffic to the site will plummet.

    How does this update affect you?

    Google is pretty vague in their blog, using Adobe Flash sites as an example and leaving it open ended insinuating that other types of sites may also be affected. Even though Google doesn’t provide a list of sites that may be affected, this should be a wake up call for all site owners. Any business with a website that is not compatible with mobile devices should be prepared to make upgrades. At this point, not doing so can bring site traffic to a standstill.

    Google is not saying it, but sites that are affected by this updated should expect to see their keyword ranking drop as well. With the stress put on user experience, it is unimaginable to think that Google would possibly allow sites that don’t promote a good user experience to rank higher than sites that do.

    Next Steps!

    Google recommends to all sites that don’t support various devices, to make the appropriate upgrades. Google references Web Fundamentals and Web Starter Kit, two resources that can be utilized by Webmaster to make the upgrade process smoother.

    It will be interesting to see how this update will evolve in later updates, and to see its effects on ranking algorithms. Will Google begin to rank sites according to their responsive design? Will they begin to rank those sites with responsive designs higher than sites that don’t? We will just have to wait and see. Business owners with a site that is not does not support all devices should call a web developer straight away!

    Image Source:
    Thanks to Hyperbole and a Half for All The Things image.

  • Five for Friday – LG Hires Bros to Build Brand, Your New Favorite Robot & Google Sees the Future of Eye Care

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    1. LG Teams Up With Bro-tastic YouTube Network for Content Marketing Campaign
    – Advertising Age

    YouTube famous stars known as Dude Perfect are getting more than just views from their unbelievable, athletic trick shots. They have already acquired advertising leads with brands such as Pringles, Nerf, and as of this week, smartphone maker LG.

    LG hopes that by standing behind these bros, they can extend their reach to younger audiences and hopefully create some competition for other dominating brands in their industry.

    Incorporating this “jaw dropping” content may boost LG’s brand recognition, but stealing market share from Apple may be a bit of a reach.

    RobotWavingHandSmallImage2. Say Hello to the Robotic Personal Assistant of Your Dreams
    – Entrepreneur

    Meet Jibo, a robotic personal assistant created by Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, a Boston-based professor and entrepreneur. Jibo is a “family robot,” designed to interact with your household, take photos and remind you of important events.

    Having had a strange personal experience with Siri, I’m a bit skeptical of personalized interaction with a computer. Jibo seems to break the mold, but will this technology continue a pattern of diminishing personal interaction in today’s culture?

    3. Novartis, Google to Develop Contact Lenses to Monitor Blood Sugar
    – Mashable

    Google is currently joining with Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical research and sales company, to develop smart contact lenses. These lenses, expected to make their debut as early as next year, will be equipped with blood glucose monitors and autofocus for troubled vision.

    “The promise here is the holy grail of vision care, to be able to replicate the natural functioning of the eye,” Jimenez said in the Bloomberg report.

    As if being “the holy grail” of the internet was not impressive enough, Google is taking it a few steps further and improving health care and the quality of life as well.

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    4. Prototype Improves Mobile Typing by Ditching the Keyboard
    – DNews

    Are you fed up with ineffective, awkward mobile and tablet typing methods? Well, a startup based in Austin, Texas is in the early stages of creating a nonexistent keyboard to solve that #FirstWorldProblem.

    Just as the name implies, the AirType project’s goal is to create a system allowing the user to type freely with no restriction but the mobile sensors around your hands and knuckles. Not only does this keyboard (or lack there of) allow you to type freely, it will also adapt to your activity and begin recognizing your habits, like voice recognition for your hands.

    5. Retargeting Is Flawed; the Future Is Pretargeting
    – Digital Next

    What if ads were designed to service needs that we don’t even know we have? Retargeting will soon be a thing of the past, the future of advertising is our future behavior.

    Most are familiar with retargeting efforts, taking products and services we already recognize and driving marketing for those brands. Marketers are beginning to refocus their goals to be more predictive and create wants and needs we may have in the future. The more information consumers divulge, the more predictive marketers become.

    Image Sources:

    Niek Beck, Moms contact

     

  • Do Your Ads Belong on LinkedIn?

    LinkedInLogoImageLinkedIn is a great advertising platform for business-to-business (B2B) companies. It helps these businesses increase brand awareness and allows them to connect with potential clients.

    Should you be advertising on LinkedIn?

    Unfortunately, if you’re an ice cream shop advertising on LinkedIn in the hopes of increasing your sales, there is a 110% chance that your time, effort, and financial resources are better off on another platform. (Hint: Facebook). This marketing approach is best for linking to other businesses.

    LinkedIn Advertising is also extremely beneficial for companies looking to fill open positions. Users aren’t just on LinkedIn to see the latest baby pictures that their old high school friends are posting. They are mostly looking for professional development and networking opportunities.

    Are you targeting the right audience?

    So, you’ve decided that LinkedIn Advertising is a strategically advantageous move for your business. Now what? Figure out your target demographic.Do this before writing your ad copy and even before sponsoring your updates. It’s imperative that you do this before jumping onto this marketing battlefield with no precise aim.

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    Why is this so important?

    LinkedIn offers a variety of demographic targeting options that can be combined to best fit the audience of your campaign. Strategically deciding on your audience will send your ads in the right direction for the best results.

    Who are you speaking to? Do you know what that audience likes and dislikes? You won’t be able to write enticing, effective ads that achieve your goals without this knowledge.

    When it comes to target options, the possibilities are vast! You can choose to target anything from specific locations, companies, and job titles to specific schools, groups, ages, and genders.

    Once you decide that LinkedIn is the place for your business and you figure out who your target demographic is, you’ll be ready to start running ads and sponsoring your updates.

    Image Source: https://flic.kr/p/3dTdUc

  • Five for Friday – Google Launches Click & Drag for Maps, A New Twitter Record, & Pinterest Gets Even Easier!

    FireworkFiveImageMarketing Land publishes new research on tweet indexing in Google search results. Google Maps rolls out handy “click and drag” update. Why your content needs images to get the attention of engaged readers. The most talked about World Cup game breaks a Twitter record. Big brands begin testing a new way to interact with Pinterest followers.

    1. Twitter A-Listers Are More Likely To Have Their Tweets Indexed In Google Search Results
    -Marketing Land

    It’s official: your tweet will never be on Google search.  A study by Stone Temple Consulting reveals that Google will likely only index your Tweets if you have over one million followers.  After analyzing 963 Twitter accounts, the study found that tweets from accounts with a million+ followers were indexed 30% of the time.  As the number of followers increased, so did the indexing percentage.  Although there were a very small percentage of tweets indexed by Google from accounts with fewer than a million followers, the amount is negligible compared to Twitter’s heavy hitters.

    On the bright side, we can all rest assured knowing the wit and wisdom of Kanye West in 40 characters or less is only a quick Google search away.

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    2. Click And Drag To Measure Distance In New Google Maps Update
    -Search Engine Journal

    Do you often take the road less traveled, only to be frustrated by not being able to measure just how far you’ve gone?  Relief has arrived!  Google announced a Google Maps update this week that allows users to click and drag to measure distances.

    Google might call me a perfectionist, but I’ve already thought of five practical applications for the new feature:

    1. Settle the argument whether you or your friend lives closer to your favorite hangout, and see if it’s truly in the middle (shortcuts finally included).

    2. Calculate how long it will actually take to detour from your road trip to see the world’s largest ball of twine.

    3. Get an accurate distance when Google’s driving directions fail because you know Maple Street is closed for repairs but it insists on sending you there anyway.

    4. Enjoy your next run (or bike or leisurely stroll) sans Nike app and still be able to calculate how far you went.

    5. Answer the age-old question: how far would it be if I wanted to walk in the shape of my name through this park?

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    3. Use Images (Not Just Words) to Turn Your Distracted Visitors into Engaged Readers
    -Copyblogger

    It’s an adage as old as time: a picture is worth 1,000 words. Pamela Wilson makes the very relatable analogy of the oversaturation of words in content marketing to an overstimulated child (if you don’t have kids, think about the one throwing a temper tantrum at the park last week).  We are visual people, so why aren’t we incorporating images while producing content online more often?

    Her tips vary from basic (remember to actually use images and not just words) to creative and insightful (doctor up a purchased stock photo to make it more unique).  Much like the sight of an image itself, lost in a sea of text, the blog is refreshing in its take on reaching your audience through content production.

    4. Germany’s Stunning World Cup Win Over Brazil Is The Most-Tweeted Sports Game Ever
    -TechCrunch

    The spirit of Brazil’s soccer team wasn’t the only thing broken after Tuesday’s World Cup match against Germany; the game was the subject of 35.6 million tweets, breaking the record for the most-discussed single sports game on Twitter. At the peak of the Twitter fury was Sami Khedira’s goal against Brazil to bring the score to 5-0 Germany, which resulted in 580,166 tweets per second.

    The record replaces this year’s Super Bowl, which garnered 24.9 million tweets.

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    5. Pinterest Makes It Easier to Follow E-commerce Brands
    -Adweek

    Pinterest has been busy working towards winning the title “Big Brand’s Best Friend.”  Following the release of its API in November, they’ve now tweaked the “follow” button to make it easier for consumers to connect with eCommerce sites.

    Currently being tested by Wayfair, Whole Foods, ModCloth, and GoPro, the new “follow” feature improves user experience by pulling in the company’s latest pins in a pop-up window instead of taking the shopper off-site.

    As a lover of Pinterest, I say bring it on!  Anything that lets me connect with my favorite brands quicker and more easily is a winner in my book.

  • Finding the ‘meez’ – or How To Spend the First 10 Mins of Your Day

    If you’re like me and have a short attention span love a good list, you’ve probably read countless articles like this. Despite being a self-proclaimed efficiency expert, I’m always on the hunt for ways to be even more efficient, especially at the start of my day.

    A recent Harvard Business Review article showcases a tip from legendary chef Anthony Bourdain that is surprisingly as applicable in an office setting as it is in the kitchen. Mise-en-place – or the “meez,” as it is often called – is a French phrase that translates to “everything in its place.” In culinary practice, it involves studying a recipe, thinking through the tools and equipment you will need, and assembling the ingredients in the right proportion before you begin.

    Cooking Ingredients Image

    Despite the fact that I never remember to do this in the kitchen, it’s a great idea for professionals to follow as well. Begin your day with a brief planning session – an intellectual mise-en-place, if you will – by mentally mapping out your upcoming tasks and meetings (and don’t forget about lunch!)

    Also, rather than checking your email immediately upon sitting down in the morning, productivity guru David Allen (how do I get that title?) suggests starting each item on your to do list with a verb. Having a list of actionable items makes it easier to check things off your list. I don’t know about you, but I find few things more satisfying than a well-marked to-do list.

    To Do List Image

    Once you’re done planning, grab a second cup of coffee – because let’s be real, you’ve already finished your first – and now you can take on the day head first with a plan!

    Image Source:  https://flic.kr/p/3mthCn

  • An Influencer’s Dispatches From Tour

    IanMusicTourPicture01

    In May, Search Influence allowed me to take off for about a month to pursue playing guitar in a touring music act. Here are some of the highlights of my trip:

    Lexington, KY – In Kentucky for derby weekend — it turns out that everyone there is incredibly nice and Mint Juleps rule.

    Philadelphia, PA – A great place to enjoy buffalo wings as well as other “lowbrow” delicacies.

    Brooklyn, NY – Got to do a cool radio interview in a studio overlooking the East Village!

    Baltimore, MD – Spooky!

    Detroit, MI – Cheap houses!!! Saw a deer — in downtown.

    Grand Rapids, MI – We played with a relatively successful band in Philly that was on tour as well. They were great, and their drummer and I got along really well. We had a funny conversation about “The Sopranos” after noticing a pastel portrait of Chris Moltisanti hanging in the green room of the venue. A week later, we were playing in Grand Rapids, when I get flagged down by someone in the parking lot. It was the drummer from the band in Philly. It turns out he was from Kalamazoo, and he and his friends drove an hour to come see us in Grand Rapids. If that wasn’t cool enough already, he and his band paid the venue owner for the funny Sopranos painting and drove it all of the way from Philly to give it to me in Grand Rapids.

    Milwaukee, WI – Ate cheese while looking over the lake. Very yummy/pretty.

    Fargo, ND – Was cold.

    Portland, OR – Homecoming show for me, it was really great seeing all of my friends and family. It was one of our best shows on tour. Coincidentally, a transformer blew up during our “encore” song, plunging the club and surrounding neighborhood into darkness, which prompted an epic drum solo in the dark. It was really fun and such a strange coincidence, everyone thought we orchestrated it.

    San Francisco, CA – COFFEE HERE WILL MAKE YOU RUN THROUGH A BRICK WALL; ALSO, GOOGLE GLASS!!!

    Los Angeles, CA – I get why they call it City of Angels, The Big Orange, La-LA Land, Shaky Town, and Tinseltown (specifically applies to Hollywood).

    Los Cruces, NM – Got to experience a breathtaking lightning storm sort of like this one.

    Marfa, TX– Was originally developed to accommodate a speculative oil boom, then bought by Swedes once the oil ran out faster than expected. Additionally, all of the weirdos who emanated the weirdness in Austin moved here once Austin’s tech boom priced them out. As result, this is a super weird little art town where every single business doubles as an art gallery. Also home of this.

    Austin, TX– Next level food scene.

    Houston, TX– Definitely a pretty big place! Rothko Chapel was cool?

    IanMusicTourPicture02

    So there you have it! Also – let it be known that the Ford Aerostar is a fine piece of machinery. I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the market for an affordable and trustworthy van.